Surviving Zombies Was Easier Than Raising Beast Cubs

Chapter 76: Chapter 76: The Cubs Finally Had Names 1

Morning came too softly.

After yesterday’s madness, Riverbone should have been noisy, but Swanly woke to rare quiet.

No shouting.

No infected screaming outside the gate.

No Selka screeching like someone had stepped on her tail.

Beautiful.

Swanly opened one eye.

The cave was dim and warm. Kael’s sleeping place was empty, but his scent still wrapped around the furs. Outside, faint voices moved through the tribe. Guards were changing positions. Wounded survivors were being checked. Someone was arguing with Nahla and losing.

Swanly listened for a moment.

Nahla’s voice cut through the morning.

”If you hide another wound from me, I will pour bitter leaf juice into your mouth while you sleep.”

A male’s weak voice said, ”Elder, I only forgot.”

”You forgot your own leg?”

Swanly smiled into the fur.

Good.

Riverbone was still alive.

She turned her head.

A tiny black panther cub sat near the entrance, playing with the edge of a hide strap.

It was the smallest.

His little ears twitched. His tail swayed behind him. His round face looked serious, as if he had been given the important duty of guarding the entire cave.

A strip of dried fruit rested beside him.

He was not eating it.

He was staring at it.

Suspiciously.

Swanly narrowed her eyes.

That fruit was in danger.

She smiled.

”Baby, come here.”

The cub’s ears shot up.

He turned, saw that she was awake, and immediately launched himself at her like a tiny black arrow.

”Mama!”

He crashed into her chest.

Swanly caught him with a soft laugh.

”Oof. Little beast, are you trying to break my ribs?”

The smallest hugged her neck tightly.

”No. Hug Mama.”

Then he lifted his head and licked her chin.

Swanly froze.

”Again?”

The cub blinked innocently.

”Mama taste like Mama.”

”That is not an explanation.”

She gently pinched his cheeks.

He giggled, then tried to lick her fingers too.

Swanly caught his little mouth with her palm.

”No licking.”

He nodded solemnly.

Then his eyes curved.

”Only small lick?”

”No.”

His ears drooped.

Swanly sighed.

This tiny cub had weaponized cuteness. If the apocalypse ever needed a new boss monster, it could just use him.

She glanced toward the strip of dried fruit beside the entrance.

”Were you eating that or guarding it?”

The cub turned serious again.

”Guarding.”

”For who?”

”Mama.”

Swanly’s heart softened.

Then the cub leaned closer and whispered, ”But baby tasted small.”

”I knew it.”

He held up two tiny fingers.

”Very small.”

”You bit half.”

”Half small.”

Swanly took the dried fruit, broke off a little piece and placed it near his mouth.

He opened wide.

Too wide.

Like a baby bird demanding tribute from the sky.

Swanly fed him.

He chewed happily, then pressed his sticky mouth against her cheek.

Swanly slowly closed her eyes.

”Baby.”

He froze.

”Did you just put fruit on my face?”

He licked her cheek at once.

”No. Clean Mama.”

Before she could scold him, a cold voice came from the cave entrance.

”That is not cleaning.”

Swanly looked up.

Soren stood at the entrance with his white tail curled behind him, silver eyes calm and judgmental.

Raku stood behind him, carrying a water skin and looking deeply tired already.

The smallest cub immediately grabbed Swanly’s blanket.

”Snake.”

Soren looked at him.

”Licking your mother’s face is not a proper morning task.”

The cub thought about it.

”Snake no mama.”

Soren paused.

Raku coughed.

Swanly covered her mouth.

Soren’s eyes narrowed slightly.

”I do not need one.”

The cub nodded wisely.

”Poor snake.”

Raku turned around.

His shoulders shook.

Soren looked at him.

”Are you laughing?”

”No.”

”You are facing the wall.”

”I am checking the wall.”

Swanly laughed quietly, then brushed the smallest cub’s messy hair back from his face.

”What should I call you?”

The cub tilted his head.

”Mama call baby.”

”I know. But that is not your name.”

He blinked again.

Swanly’s hand paused.

Wait.

Her smile faded.

She sat up slowly.

”You and your brothers... do you have names?”

The smallest cub looked at her.

Then he shook his head.

”No.”

The word was too simple.

Too soft.

It hit her harder than Selka’s slap.

Swanly stared at him.

”No names?”

The cub lowered his ears.

”Before, Mama no want cubs.”

Swanly’s chest tightened.

He hugged her fur blanket with his little fingers.

”Papa said maybe one day Mama look at us. Maybe one day Mama name us.”

His voice became smaller.

”But Mama angry. Mama say cubs not need names.”

Swanly stopped breathing.

The cave seemed to shrink around her.

The old Swanly had rejected them.

That much she knew.

But hearing it from this tiny mouth was worse.

This baby had waited for a name like it was food.

Like it was warmth.

Like it was proof that his mother wanted him alive.

Swanly pulled him against her chest.

”I am sorry.”

The cub nuzzled into her.

”Mama now.”

”Yes.” Her throat hurt. ”Mama now.”

He lifted his face.

”Mama give name?”

Swanly wiped quickly beneath one eye.

”Yes. Right now.”

His eyes went round.

”Now?”

”Now.”

He gasped as if she had announced she would give him the moon.

Soren’s expression shifted.

Only a little.

But Swanly saw it.

The cold snake had become quiet.

Even Raku stopped pretending to inspect the wall.

Swanly looked toward the cave entrance.

”Where are your brothers?”

The smallest pointed outside.

”Outside. Eldest watching. Second thinking.”

Of course.

One guard.

One tiny philosopher.

Swanly raised her voice.

”Babies! Come here!”

Outside, there was a thump.

Then two small bodies came running.

The eldest entered first, serious face full of worry.

”Mama call?”

The second followed quietly, but his eyes were already searching her face.

”Something wrong?”

The smallest wriggled in Swanly’s lap.

”Mama giving names!”

The eldest froze.

The second froze.

Both cubs stared at Swanly.

For one breath, none of them moved.

Then the eldest whispered, ”Names?”

Swanly opened her arms.

”Come here.”

They rushed her at once.